REMINISCENCES OF SONEPORE. 97 



dances, and he was whispering soft nothings in her shell-like ear r 

 when up came Blaney Hickey, a typical blundering Irishman, 

 who had only arrived that evening, and not seen Gilbert till 

 then. " Hullo old chap, delighted to see you/' he blurted out ,- 

 " How are the wife and twins ?" Just fancy that unhappy girl's 

 feelings, her hopes dashed thus rudely to the ground shattered 

 was her idol, gone was the romance. " Twins," she shrieked ; 

 "take me at once to my chaperon." Over the windows of 

 sorrow let us draw down the blinds. Sheepishly did the base de- 

 ceiver lead the heart broken lassie to her protector, and then off 

 he went to slaughter Blaney. In one of the races that year, old 

 Bill Brewty, the jockey, who had been imbibing pretty freely the 

 night before, was riding a bay countrybred, which at the mile and 

 a quarter post bolted off the course into the trees, and hung 

 itself up among the ropes of a tent; the occupant, a crusty old 

 fellow, came out and said, "This is not the race course, my man," 

 "I know its not Boss," answered the irrepressible one; "but 

 have you got a drink." The old gentleman's language was de- 

 cidedly strong, but Brewty had to retire without a nip. 



CHAPTER XX. 



YEAR 1874. 



The year 1874 was to introduce to the Indian Turf that 

 great colt Kingcraft, who proved himself in this and after 

 years an equine wonder. Owing to Mr. Eraser McD'onelPs 

 transfer, George Porter, another good natured Civilian, ran the 

 show, and a very good Secretary he made ; a fair number of 

 horses turned up from all parts of the country. The Lall Serryah 

 stable was particularly strong, and if Maitland had a clinker in 

 Kingcraft, Fisherboy, trained by Jimmy, and belonging to 

 Harry Fraser and Bumph Freeman, was also going to turn out 

 one of the best horses of the year. Then they had Finette, 

 Othello, Amethyst, Philanthropist, Fez, Black Eagle, Red Gaunt- 

 let, Fireworks, Canton-Sue, Bedad, Vaudeville, Scot, and that 



